YOGYAKARTA – A researcher from the Asia Research Institute of National University of Singapore, Prof. Dr. Tim Bunnel, said that Yogyakarta and Surakarta are regions which successfully implement transparency and accountability in the implementation of development in regional autonomy. In addition to the two cities, Bunnel mentioned, Palembang is a city that successfully implements river revitalization. Meanwhile, Tarakan is assessed as successful in terms of urban planning while Pekalongan is considered as having good leadership in handling climate change issue.
Specifically, Bunnel appreciated the Mayor of Solo, Joko Wi, for his concept of active participation in community development. "He has good leadership, planning skills, stimulating a sense of community ownership in the process of change," Bunnel said in International Conference on the Future of Urban and Peri-urban Area at Faculty of Geography, Monday (11/7).
However, Bunnel regretted that the decentralization and democratization being rolled out by the central government have not been followed by transparency and accountability. They even cause excesses of corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN), which are increasingly widespread. "Precisely, what happened was decentralized corruption, ego of regionalism, and poor cooperation among regions," he said.
Based on Bunnel’s research, the positive impacts since the fall of Soeharto are decentralization and democratization. Meanwhile, the negative impacts are increasingly widespread practices of corruption and the stronger local patronage networks. "Up to now, around 30 regents are being investigated for corruption, while four regents have been prosecuted or convicted for corruption," he said.